Argyranthemum plant named ‘Sas Pinka’

ABSTRACT

A new  Argyranthemum  plant particularly distinguished by its large pink inflorescences, a semi-compact and full plant habit, light green foliage and good vigor is disclosed.

Genus and species: Argyranthemum frutescens.

Variety denomination: ‘Sas Pinka’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofArgyranthemum, botanically known as Argyranthemum frutescens, andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Sas Pinka’. The newcultivar originated from a hybridization made in August 2003 in Andijk,The Netherlands. The female parent was the light-pink floweredArgyranthemum proprietary line ‘AR03-159-1’ (unpatented), and the maleparent was the pink flowered Argyranthemum proprietary line ‘AR02-39-1’(unpatented). The seeds produced by the hybridization were sown inJanuary 2004 in Andijk, The Netherlands. A single plant selection waschosen for further evaluation and for asexual propagation in May 2004 inAndijk, The Netherlands.

The new cultivar was created in 2003 in Andijk, The Netherlands and hasbeen asexually reproduced repeatedly by vegetative cuttings and tissueculture in Andijk, The Netherlands and Hillscheid, Germany over athree-year period. The plant has also been trialed at Gilroy, Calif.,Andijk, The Netherlands and Hillscheid, Germany. The present inventionhas been found to retain its distinctive characteristics throughsuccessive asexual propagations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Gilroy, Calif.

-   -   1. Large, pink inflorescences;    -   2. A semi-compact and full plant habit;    -   3. Light green foliage; and    -   4. Good plant vigor.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Argranthemum plant is illustrated by the accompanyingphotographs which show overall plant habit including blooms, buds, andfoliage of the plant; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonablyobtained by conventional photographic procedures.

FIG. 1 Overall plant habit including blooms, buds, and foliage of theplant grown outside in a 10-inch basket in the summer in Andijk, TheNetherlands in August.

FIG. 2 Close-up of a 3 to 4 month old plant grown in a 5-inch pot in agreenhouse in Andijk, The Netherlands in May.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘Sas Pinka’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inHillscheid, Germany. The plant history was taken on 16-week-old plantsgrown in 12-inch pots in the spring in a greenhouse. Two terminalpinches and one plant growth regulator treatment was made at a youngplant stage. Color readings were taken in the greenhouse in May undernatural light. Color references are primarily to the R.H.S., ColourChart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) (2001edition). Texture description details were observed under a dissectingmicroscope.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Asteraceae.        -   Botanical name.— Argyranthemum frutescens.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—‘AR03-159-1’ light-pink flowered            Argyranthemum proprietary line (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—‘AR02-39-1’ pink flowered Argyranthemum            proprietary line (unpatented).-   Growth:    -   -   Form.—Upright.        -   Habit.—Semi-compact.        -   Growth and branching habit.—Good, vigorous and freely            branching habit.        -   Height (from top of soil).—25.0 cm to 30.0 cm.        -   Width (including inflorescences).—47.0 cm to 55.0 cm.        -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—7 to 9 weeks for            a 6-inch pot.        -   Outdoor plant performance.—Used as patio planters,            mixed-container plantings, or in garden beds.        -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—14 to 21 days at 68° F.            to 74° F.        -   Root description.—Fibrous, freely branching, and white.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.        -   Shape.—Pinnatifid and deeply divided.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Length (fully expanded).—6.0 cm to 7.4 cm.        -   Width (fully expanded).—3.8 cm to 6.8 cm.        -   Color.—Immature: Upper surface: RHS 137C to RHS 137D. Lower            surface: RHS 143B. Mature: Upper surface: RHS 137A to RHS            137B. Lower surface: RHS 137D to RHS 138A.        -   Venation.—Color: RHS 137C.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.        -   Petiole.—Color: RHS 137B. Length: 0.3 cm to 0.4 cm. Width:            0.2 cm to 0.3 cm. Texture: Glabrous.-   Stems:    -   -   Number of branches per plant.—8 to 12.        -   Length.—19.0 cm to 25.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.4 cm to 0.6 cm at the mid-point.        -   Internode length.—1.5 cm to 2.5 cm.        -   Color.—RHS 143D.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.        -   Anthocyanin.—Absent.-   Bud:    -   -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Diameter.—0.8 cm.        -   Length.—1.0 cm.        -   Color (just before ray florets unfold).—RHS N66D.-   Inflorescence    -   -   Type.—Terminal and axillary inflorescences held above            foliage; solitary capitulum inflorescence on long peduncles.        -   Blooming habit.—Plants flower continuously from the spring            through the fall.        -   Quantity of inflorescences per plant.—20 to 30 with            approximately 25 buds.        -   Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—11 to 12            days.        -   Fragrance.—None.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—3.9 cm to 4.1 cm.        -   Depth.—0.75 cm.        -   Disc diameter.—1.2 cm to 1.4 cm.        -   Disc floret.—Quantity (per inflorescence): More than 120.            Shape: Densely massed, tubular, 5-parted and flared at the            apex. Color: Closed: RHS 13A Open: RHS 185A to RHS 60A.        -   Tube.—Color: Immature (closed): RHS 13A near tip and RHS            145A at the middle. Mature: Closest to RHS 145D, but whiter;            RHS 46A at apex tips. Length: 0.6 cm. Diameter: 0.1 cm to            0.2 cm. Apex: 5-lobed, acute, somewhat reflexing at            maturity. Base: Fused.        -   Ray floret.—Quantity: 23 to 25 arranged in two whorls. Shape            and form: Ligulate; the corolla consists of a very short            tube or funnel at the base, and the fused ray florets form            one long, elliptically shaped ray, horizontally/outwards            directed. Length: 1.2 cm to 1.6 cm. Width: 0.45 cm to            0.55 cm. Color: Upper surface: RHS N66D, then RHS 65A and            fading at maturity to RHS 75C to RHS 75D; with bases            remaining somewhat deeper in color than the middle parts and            tips Lower surface: RHS N66C, then RHS 68B and maturing at            RHS 69B. Apex: Rounded, or weakly tri-dentate. Base: Fused.            Margin: Entire. Texture: Papillose; slight ripple-like            lengthwise.        -   Peduncle.—Color: RHS 139D, often with fine lines of            anthocyanin coloring of about RHS 181B to RHS 181C. Length:            6.0 cm to 15.0 cm. Diameter: 0.2 cm. Texture: Glabrous.        -   Involucral bracts.—Quantity (per inflorescence): 15 to 17.            Shape: Elliptical to ovate. Length: 0.3 cm to 0.4 cm. Width:            0.2 cm to 0.3 cm. Color: RHS 137D and margins are            semi-translucent with a papery substance. Apex: Acute. Base:            Fused. Margin: Entire. Texture: Glabrous.-   Reproductive Organs:    -   -   Androecium.—Location: Mostly on disc florets only. Quantity:            1 per floret. Filament length: 0.8 cm. Filament color: RHS            11A. Pollen color: RHS 13A. Pollen amount: Moderate.        -   Gynoecium.—Location: Present on ray and disc florets.            Quantity per floret: 1. Pistil length: 0.3 cm to 0.4 cm.            Stigma: Color: RHS 12A. Style: Color: RHS 145C.-   Fruit and seed set: Has not been observed.-   Disease and insect resistance: Has not been observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS

‘Sas Pinka’ differs from the female parent, ‘AR03-159-1’ (unpatented) inthat ‘Sas Pinka’ has larger, more abundant inflorescences with a moreintense flower color than ‘AR03-159-1’. Additionally, ‘Sas Pinka’ haslonger branches and internodes than ‘AR03-159-1’.

‘Sas Pinka’ differs from the male parent, ‘AR02-39-1’ (unpatented) inthat ‘Sas Pinka’ has a larger and more upright plant habit with moreabundant stems and leaves than ‘AR02-39-1’. Additionally, ‘Sas Pinka’has a less intense pink ray floret color than ‘AR02-39-1’.

‘Sas Pinka’ differs from the commercial cultivar ‘Pink Wonder’ (PatentStatus Unknown) in that ‘Sas Pinka’ has a more compact and fuller planthabit than ‘Pink Wonder’. ‘Sas Pinka’ is earlier to flower with largerinflorescences than ‘Pink Wonder’. Additionally, ‘Sas Pinka’ has lightergreen foliage than ‘Pink Wonder’.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Argyranthemum plant as shown anddescribed herein.